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Have you ever looked at a map and wondered what the dotted lines that transverse the country were? Well, the universal map symbol for railroads is a dotted like, meant the symbolized the way the tracks are divided up every few feet by a cross bar. Railroads have slowly been surpassed by cars and planes as the main type of transportation in America, but they are still used by many individuals and companies today. Below are a few terms that related to the railroad system.

Locomotive – Another word for train, locomotives have been around for over 100 years. They can be powered by steam, coal, gas, or electricity. Trains are used to transport people as well as various cargo such as natural resources and animals.

Metro – A train that is used only to transport human passengers around a specific area. Its rapid speed allows commuters to cross the city in less time. This type of train has many other names such as transit system or subway.

Fare – The price paid for a seat on a train. The cost of ticket depends on solely where you are and what type of train you are riding.

Express – A train that makes little to no stops along the way to its final destination because of its strict schedule.

Freight – A type of train that is used solely to transport goods. They are often slower and cheaper than express locomotives.

Timetable – The train’s schedule, usually displayed on the wall behind the ticket desk. The timetable lists the estimated departure and arrival times, as well as the stations the trains are heading to.

Railroad Crossing – The place where the train tracks overlap the street. The railroad crossing sign is yellow circle with a black "x".

Everyone loves railroads. Children often make model trains and railroad crossings of their own, to play with at their leisure. Ties are used as the base for tracks. And many adults love pouring over train schedules, timetable, and maps. It's easy to become immersed in the allure of train culture, but few people really know much about the way trains work.
Trains travel along a set of tracks, or a rail road. These tracks often intersect at railroad crossings. They are also often served by rail road stations.
At one of these stations, locomotives slow and eventually come to a complete stop. The conductors of these trains depending on what type of train they operate can then go about their business. If they operate a freight, or cargo, train, they may begin unloading their goods. These goods can then be hauled somewhere else, or shipped away to another location. If they operate a passenger carrier, they can begin preparing for the arrival of ticketed passengers. They can see to it that everyone who hopes to board the train has a metro card, or a fare card, and they can see to it that all of the passengers are headed toward the correct destination.
Trains are a mode of rapid transit transportation. They, therefore, are capable of traveling at great speeds. They follow a complex schedule and a set of maps and timetables. They rely on signs to guide them to the correct station. They can be either publicly or privately owned.
Trains are truly interesting machines, and they are certainly worth learning a little more about!